Occupational and Environmental Medicine Specialty Profile

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

OEM is concerned with the effects of work on a person’s health and health in the workplace

Occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) is the study and practice of medicine related to the effects of work on a person’s health and health in the workplace.

Illness and injury related to work and its environment can have dramatic financial and social consequences for both employers and employees. OEM physicians investigate and diagnose work and environment related conditions (chemical, physical, biological and psychosocial) through clinical, preventive, environmental and population assessments. Common examples include workplace ergonomics and the impact of shift work and fatigue on employees and families.

OEM physicians must have highly developed assessment and interpersonal skills, as well as be excellent communicators. They use these skills to interact with other medical professionals, employers and employees in person, on the telephone or in a written report.

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Occupational Medicine Training Program

Training Program

The Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM) supervise training in occupational medicine. AFOEM is a faculty of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). The training program is designed for self-directed learning and each trainee’s personal learning plan... more

Application process

Prior to applying, trainees must be registered medical practitioners and have completed at least 3 years of postgraduate general clinical experience. Trainees must also have completed a recognised diploma degree or masters level qualification in occupational health and be working... more

Length of training

Trainees can carry out the program on a part time basis, and have up to 10 years to complete the program. The average length of training is 4.5 years.... more

Cost of Training

Application fee: $350 Annual training subscription fee (early bird): $660 Annual training subscription fee (late payment): $750 Subscription to OMJ: $110 Written exam: $1,150 Practical exam: $1,150... more

Availability/Competition for training positions

Awareness of environmental issues is increasing and so is appreciation for the impact of environmental issues on workers’ health. These factors have resulted in increased demand for OEM expertise. There are currently over 500 OEM physicians practicing throughout Australia and... more

Flexibility in Training

Trainees can carry out the program on a part time basis, and have up to 10 years to complete the program. To remain active in the training program, trainees need to be employed and supervised in occupational medicine for a... more

Occupational Medicine Workplace

The Workplace

OEM physicians play a large advisory role and use a holistic approach when identifying the health effects of occupational, social, psychological and environmental factors. A typical day may involve rehabilitating a firecracker technician with noise induced hearing loss back to... more

The doctor-patient relationship

There is limited opportunity for ongoing patient care in OEM, however OEM physicians need to be able to establish immediate rapport and gain the patient’s confidence and trust before embarking on any assessments. They must be effective communicators and use... more

Intellectual content

OEM is a very diverse and challenging medical specialty. OEM physicians are expected to have a sound knowledge of all areas of medicine but must also learn additional skills, such as workplace and environmental hazards, rehabilitation medicine, government legislation and... more

Lifestyle and practice options

OEM is a diverse specialty encompassing a range of possible career paths from working with the government on workplace policies to the military on stress minimalisation strategies, or organisations on ergonomic planning. The exact nature of the work carried out... more

Medical indemnity

Medico-legal issues, as with all aspects with medical practice, are becoming increasingly significant. Use our risk category tool to see what risk category is assigned to this specialty.... more

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